JIMMY THE GENT
US, 1934, 67 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Bette Davis, Allen Jenkins, Alan Dinehart.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
Jimmy the Gent is a brief and brisk drama for James Cagney. He runs a somewhat disreputable business, chasing disasters and finding rich people who left no will, then finding their relatives (sometimes alleged). Bette Davis portrays Joan, his former girlfriend who worked for him, but who has moved upmarket to a more respectable agency doing the same thing. Allen Jenkins is the fall guy for all of Cagney’s plans and detection.
The film is humorous in its fast-talking presentation of Cagney and his work (with an extraordinary back-and-sides haircut). Bette Davis is all charm – in the year that she won her first Oscar for Dangerous.
The film involves quite a scam, as Cagney improves his communication skills and makes his office more upmarket like that of his rival. He sets up a gambling murderer, who is actually an heir, but marries him off twice so that the second wife, who could give testimony against him, cannot go into court against her husband. Bette Davis, of course, thinks that this is the height of immorality and spurns him. However, he gets the money, discovers that her respectable boss is stealing all the money, and he promises to give a cheque to the alternate and needy beneficiary of the will.
Michael Curtiz was a prolific director at Warner Bros, with a wide range of films, culminating in his Oscar for Casablanca.
1. An amusing Warner Bros film of the early 30s? James Cagney and Bette Davis working together? Allen Jenkins always reliable for comedy – and as the stooge for the hero?
2. The brevity of the film, the sparky dialogue? Musical score? New York City, the poorer areas, the upmarket?
3. Jimmy Corrigan, Cagney’s portrayal, his work in the office, his temper, his attacks on Lou? The collage of all the rich people dying – and not having heirs? His sending out a group of men to find potential heirs? The shady background? His visit to Charles Wallingham, discovering the upmarket style, the women bringing cups of tea, the politeness? Joan and her work for Wallingham? His decision to educate himself and transform his office?
4. Joan, the friendship with Jimmy, her not liking his methods, going to work with Wallingham? Wallingham, smooth, courting Joan? His own work in chasing up heirs? His staff?
5. Jimmy, discovering the murderer? The various leads? Getting to him? Persuading him about the money? The marriage to the secretary so that he was validly married? The marriage to the witness so that she could not testify against him? The promises of money to everyone?
6. The court case, the scam, its success? Jimmy and his telling off the witness, not giving her any money? The secretary and her love for Lou? The dissolving of the marriage? The criminal getting all the money?
7. Joan, her disgust? Her decision to go off with Wallingham? Jimmy and his promising the cheque to Wallingham? Lou discovering that he was cashing it, booking the ticket on the boat to escape? Sending the telegram to Joan, her going to the boat, discovering the truth about Wallingham?
8. Jimmy and his giving the cheque for the young woman who was missing out on an inheritance? Joan happy – and the romantic happy ending?
